Matt Carley

I enjoyed going on Nick Telson-Sillett’s podcast, Pitch Deck by Forward Pursuit. Nick is a serial founder and investor (founded and exited DesignMyNight) so knows both sides of the table which always makes for an enriching chat. Some things we discussed: - The perceived power dynamic between VCs and founders can hinder productive conversations. - A compelling product demo can significantly influence investor interest. - Founders must focus on solving real customer problems to succeed. - Hiring standards are crucial for building a successful startup team. - Behavioural roadblocks can prevent the adoption of new solutions. - Validation from potential customers is key for pre-revenue startups. - The early-stage funding landscape has become more efficient and selective. - Pace of execution is a critical factor in attracting investment.

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The scenario... You're a young sports industry startup that has stalled growth and although you may be ready for institutional capital, you need to show more proof that you can execute and push through this plateau. This is where hiring a professional growth management firm like Champion Management Company comes into play. They will come in and help push through those hurdles and prop you up to get ready for institutional investors like Champion Venture Partners to come in heavy with a pile of new cash to fuel that next level of growth. Hit them up if this sounds like a solution that you need!

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I really enjoyed recording this episode of The Digital Industrial Podcast with Ty Findley. We talked about common misconceptions for deep tech, the "Why Now" for the category, and differences between investor diligence for deep tech and traditional tech. https://lnkd.in/eKtwjauu

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About to go live... Startup Studio portfolio VC fund. $8.5 mil. with room to oversubscribe. All deals warehoused and ready to allocate. Built in equity on day 1. Low 1 time management fee. $35k minimum investment. 506c so accredited investors only. GP's are personally invested. Multi tiered exit strategy in place. Liquidity options available at year 2. *** This presentation of Sidecar Portfolio Fund (the “Company”) is for information only and shall not constitute an offer to buy, sell, issue or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell or issue, or subscribe for any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.***

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HUGE opportunity

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Today's Boring Biz (# 98): Pirate Ship Party Boat Tour - $4.0M Revenue - $3.5M Cashflow - $2.9M Ask Price - 0.8x Multiple - Baja California (Mexico) Note: We do not represent this deal, highlighting for informational purposes only for viewers What does the company do? 1. Pirate ship party tours 2. Themed entertainment experiences 3. Alcohol + merchandise sales Investment highlights 1. Exclusive liquor license to sell off dock 2. Equipment: 2x large ships + 1x speed boat 3. Seller ran similar business 1990 - 2013, longtime operator Investment risks/concerns 1. Owner dependency risk 2. Vulnerability to Mexico tourism laws 3. Owner health issues/ fire sale #SMB #ETA #finance #Cashflow #investing #search #searchfund #privateequity #microprivateequity #smallbusiness #venturecapital #vc #entrepreneur #business #businessowner #pirate #ship #party #boat #mexico Disclaimer: Hypothetical and illustrative only. Please do your own research (DYOR) or work with tax and legal professionals before making a decision. This video are intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice, nor should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any security by SMB PE LLC or any third party.

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🚀 Brian Clough was a blinkin' genius in football management terms. Love his quote "We had a great team on paper. Unfortunately the team were playing on grass". And yes - it's one of those annoying "This thing happened and here's what you can learn from it" posts. But it's true. Sales projections, market sizing and GTMs are all good and great. And important. But building a startup almost never works like you thought it was going to. You're not building your startup on paper. You're building on grass. And that's what the investor is looking for - do you have a plan B, a Plan C? Do you have what it takes to interpret the data objectively, pivot and still execute the 💩 out of your business? Video in the comments! Psssssst. Do you want to join the nearly 200 people signed up to watch me roast 3 investment decks LIVE? Join me on Thurs Sep 5th to see how investors actually view decks. Direct, candid and no holds barred. Sign up https://buff.ly/3XpMEB8

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When I created Founders Game, I wanted a space to empathize with founders at my level. That's why we required founders to have either raised $1M, or generated $500K ARR to even apply. Now, we're opening it up founders at all levels. If you want to join the closed beta, leave a 2 sentence pitch of your startup in the comments below.. I'll be DMing select pitches with a link to an application.

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🎙️ NEW EPISODE ALERT on Zero Limits Podcast! 🚀 EP 3 is live and it's packed with strategies for any scrappy underdog startup to outsmart the goliaths. https://lnkd.in/g4j-gCc5 “Think big, start small, and scale fast”. It’s a simple formula with endless complexities of execution for any startup founder wanting to disrupt an entire industry. Join me and Melinda Wittstock, Founder and CEO Podopolo and Associate Partner at Zero Limits Capital,  as we share how to disrupt whole industries by tapping into hidden markets and pioneering profitable niches. 🔗Listen and subscribe here or wherever you get your podcasts. 🔑Key Takeaways   🏗️ David vs. Goliath Strategies: Ever wondered how to stand tall when competing with the big guns in your industry? We've cracked the code on why giants might leave certain strategies untouched and how you, as a nimble disruptor, can swoop in to seize those opportunities. 🎯 Measuring for Mastery: Unearth the secret sauce behind monitoring and measuring key performance indicators that can skyrocket your business growth. The mantra is simple – if you can't measure it, you can't improve it. 📈 Tailor, Transform, Triumph: Discover how a shift in targeting and understanding your market size can lead to a whopping 1000% value gain. M&A maestro, investment banker and entrepreneur Steve Little shares a real-life case where identifying underserved markets and pivoting to a SaaS model brought about a revolution for a small banking software firm.   ➡️ If you're itching to unlock the potential of your venture and leave the competition in the dust, this episode is your blueprint for explosive growth. Listen now and catapult your business beyond limits! #ZeroLimitsPodcast #BusinessGrowthSecrets #EntrepreneurshipUnleashed #MarketDisruption #BusinessGrowthStrategies #ZeroLimitsVentures   Plus, a couple of important tips: - 🔑 **Know Your Market Size**: Misjudging your market can be fatal for startups. Understanding market dynamics is crucial to sustainability and scalability. - 🔑 **Educate with Intent**: Need to introduce a groundbreaking product or service? Aim for less consumer education and more pre-existing pain points with clearer market demand. - 🔑 **Adaptability is King**: As your business evolves, so should your strategies. Focus on profitability and traction at the right phase to ensure you're not just surviving, but thriving. 🔊 Tune in now to Zero Limits Business Growth Secrets #podcast for the full lowdown and transform these value growth insights into action and watch your business soar! https://lnkd.in/gr9KFGrh  #ZeroLimitsPodcast #BusinessGrowth #StartupStrategy #Entrepreneurship

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Back-to-back 1:1 pitches from founders filled my schedule. Here’s a piece of advice from someone who’s been in the trenches for over 20 years, scaled businesses to over $100M, and has seen a plethora of pitches: Founders, please rehearse your pitch until it's second nature. In my experience, 90% of the 30-minute meetings were spent trying to decipher what the business actually does. Founders, this isn't just about securing investment; it's about refining your vision and articulating it with passion and precision. The good news? It’s surprisingly easy to stand out with a clear, concise, and compelling pitch. And remember, the journey is just as important as the destination. Enjoy the process!

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Silicon Valley Slackers: Myth or Reality? We sat down with Menlo Ventures’ Deedy Das to discuss his viral tweet about underworked engineers earning $300K+ and the phenomenon’s broader implications. Mouse Jigglers & Ghost Engineers: Deedy shares wild stories of remote workers gaming the system, from "working" in Mexico for years to productivity software catching patterns of inactivity. Misaligned Incentives: Deedy argues that middle managers prioritize headcount over productivity, creating an environment where underperformance is overlooked. Measuring Productivity: Lines of code and git commits aren’t enough. Engineering productivity remains complex and difficult to quantify, so there’s no silver bullet. Viral Backlash: Deedy’s anecdotes sparked heated debates in tech, with some engineers admitting to coasting while others criticized him for "narking" on the culture. Should companies rethink how they measure and incentivize performance?

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The #VentureStudio community is thriving and when two leaders from different studios get together it is always going to be a great conversation. This podcast is huge as two brilliant Venture Studio leaders Barry O'Reilly from Nobody Studios and Ben Yoskovitz from Highline Beta join to unpack the innovative world of venture studios and uncover the strategies that make startups thrive. In this episode, you will learn: 📈 The fundamentals of creating and scaling a venture studio 🛠️ Strategies for innovating with accelerators, incubators, and venture capital 💡 How to apply Lean Startup principles to build products people actually want 🤝 The importance of collaboration between founders, corporate partners, and investors 🔄 Insights into the specialization and future trends of venture studios Take a listen and learn from two masters.

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We wired our 300th SPV this week via Riverside Ventures 💰💸📈 This does not include deals I have co-syndicated, as most know this is a model I am bullish on and expands the exposure for LPs. I’m not going to do a “10 key learnings from 300 SPV’s” post, ya know… all that stuff you’re supposed to do or whatever here. I cover it weekly via Last Money In Media 🙂 The best curated syndicated deals for accredited investors can now be found via Deal Sheet (our new, paid product). Feeling very motivated from the 300 deals we’ve done! Excited for the next 300 SPV’s and awesome founders/companies to back ahead! We don’t lead rounds or set terms but we are definitely open for business. Onwards & upwards for Riverside Ventures, Last Money In Media, and Deal Sheet...

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Congrats to Baller League on raising $25m Series A led by EQT Ventures and $8m Seed co-led by Dreamcraft Ventures. 💥 ⚽️ 🙌 Felix Starck founded Baller League in 2023 with an aspiration to lead a new era of #football with a fast-paced, six-a-side and 30 minute format. After two amazing seasons in Germany during 2024, the league is launching in UK and US during 2025, featuring hungry up-coming players in tandem with megastars like Ronaldinho, Usain Bolt, Luis Figo, John Terry, IShowSpeed and KSI. ✨ 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 🇺🇸 The #Dreamcrafters are proud to have co-led Baller League's Seed round in July 2024 with our friends from Oakvale Ventures, and we're excited to see the Baller Team secure a massive Series A led by our friends from EQT Ventures only six months later 🔥 📈 "Baller League’s rapid graduation from Seed to Series A is nothing short of remarkable. Raising their Seed round in July and securing their Series A in December highlights the team’s exceptional drive and focus. It’s great to be part of supporting an exceptional team and company that hits the sweet spot in our investment strategy with its #DigitalEntertainment focus and founded in #Germany. We’re especially proud to have brought in value-adding co-investors for their Series A round, ensuring the team is supported as they continue their great momentum." - Carsten Gjoertler Salling 🤗 Read more about Baller League and round in Financial Times and EU-Startups - find the links in the comments 👇 #Startups #VentureCapital

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"~80% of Floodgate's returns were from companies that had some type of significant pivot", including Twitch that was over a 80x from a company that original was called Justin.TV founded by Justin Kan as a way to stream his life. Mike Maples, Jr joined me on a special podcast to do a deep dive on the observations that led to his release of his book Pattern Breakers (avaialble everywhere as of this week so check it out!). Venture is a power law industry, and the best companies often have founders that see into the future and build things that may seem silly at first. Instead of backing incrementalist companies, Mike talks about the core thesis around Pattern Breakers, including "Founder Future" fit and the need for investors to understand inflection points and unique insights in companies they look at. Full interview in the comments:

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Want to build wealth faster? Skip startups. Buy Boring Old Businesses. Here’s why: 1. They’re already making money. 2. They come with customers, systems, and momentum. 3. They’re undervalued – 2.5x profits is standard. 4. SBA loans or seller financing make them accessible. 5. Easy profit boosters: raise prices or add new products. 6. They’re easier to scale than startups. Startups fail 65% of the time within the first 5 years. But "boring" businesses? They’re built to last. Don’t build from scratch. Buy something proven. If you could buy a "boring" business, what type of business would you buy?

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🚀Exciting News! AGS LABS / ALES GREY™ has been invited to pitch at FoundersBoost LA’s spring cohort and the Alliance for Southern California Innovation SoCal Venture Pipeline program at Google! If you’re an investor, please join us on June 4th for an exclusive joint Demo Day by FoundersBoost LA & the Alliance for SoCal Innovation! 🌟 The Alliance and FoundersBoost are joining forces to showcase some of the top young companies in LA! In addition to hearing the amazing pitches, you’ll be able to network with other investors, incredible mentors, supporting partners, program leaders, and the startup founders. Refreshments will be served. 🍹 📌 IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a private invite event due to capacity constraints and to maintain a value-add atmosphere. Sign Up Link Below. https://lu.ma/lademoday Don’t miss this opportunity to discover and support the next big thing in innovation! 🌐 #FoundersBoost #DemoDay #Innovation #Startups #Investors #Networking #PitchEvent #AGSLABS #ALESGREY #SoCalInnovation #GoogleEvents

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Founders, here’s something I learned the hard way: The TAM-SOM Paradox: We often hear about needing a huge market (TAM) to attract VCs. Yet, when you're in the trenches, your world revolves around SOM. Every move, every decision — it's about being lean and effective. To succeed, you must start uncomfortably narrow. But VCs are eyeing the TAM. I've seen many founders, including myself, grapple with this. Start too broad, and you’ll scatter your resources too thin. Fail to communicate your TAM, and you’ll lose top-tier investors. It's a paradox, but it's also the key to success. So, my advice? Perfect your SOM, but plan for TAM. Show VCs not just where you are, but where you could be. You don't need to compromise on vision for execution. Focus on your SOM for efficiency. But never lose sight of your TAM for growth potential. What do you think? Loads more great content in my hot 🔥 Newsletter for you and your network to enjoy & repurpose ✅ - https://lnkd.in/ejecDs9Z This post comes from my book “The GTM Handbook for SaaS Leaders” co-authored with Richard Blundell & Paul Watson #BrainDumps 🧠 💩 // Brain Dump #19

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Wing Venture Capital's Founder Docs project is a unique collection of startup wisdom, by founders, for founders. The authors of the docs are talented founders themselves, sharing their experience on the topics they are most passionate about. I'd like to highlight the contributions of Edo Liberty, founder / CEO of Pinecone. Edo writes about the special opportunities for the scientist / founder (and he is one of the best of this breed!), as well as some of the risks and challenges they face. I got a lot out of reading Edo's stuff and I suspect you will too! https://lnkd.in/g_wyRMiE

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